semester

1 of 2

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈme-stər 

1

: either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided

2

: a period of six months

semestral

sə-ˈme-strəl 

adjective

or semestrial

sə-ˈme-strē-əl 

semestral

2 of 2

adjective

se·​mes·​tral -strəl 

variants or semestrial

-ˌtrēəl 

: occurring every six months or within a period of six months : of or relating to a six-month period

Examples of semester in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Crookhaven is heading back for another semester at high school. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 July 2026

The actor did, however, visit the town a few years prior, as a 19-year-old exchange student from Columbia University taking a semester abroad in Prague. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 July 2026

The fall semester is just a few months away, and the nation’s colleges are beginning to prepare for students’ arrival on campus. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The disbursement is often split into two parts, one for each semester. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

Adjective

Latin semestris half-yearly + English -al or -ial

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing semester

• semester hour

Rhymes for semester

• ancestor
• arrester
• digester
• investor
• protester
• requester
• sequester
• silvester
• trimester
• ester
• esther
• fester

Kids Definition

semester

noun

se·​mes·​ter sə-ˈmes-tər 

: either of two terms of about 18 weeks each that make up a school year